CBP Posts Q&A and Other Documents on ACE Truck e-Manifest
CBP Posts Q&A and Other Documents
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on ACE Truck e-Manifest
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a 45-page set of technical Questions and Answers (Q&A) and other documents related to ACE Release 4 - Truck e-Manifest .
This Q&A, as well as the other documents, are posted to the ACE EDI Message Drafts section of CBP's web site.
This is Part I of a multi-part series of summaries on these newly posted ACE Truck e-manifest documents and highlights CBP's Q&A document, which appears to be from the June 2004 Trade Support Network (TSN) meeting. See future issues of ITT for summaries of CBP's other newly posted truck e-manifest documents (described at the end of this summary).
Highlights of e-Manifest: Truck Q&A
CBP's Q&A groups its contents into the following categories (with samples of the questions listed below):
- e-Manifest : Trucks (ACE Release 4) Overview
o How many countries of origin will ACE accept for one Bill for a Sec. 321 shipment type?
o Will we be able to have multiple BRASS codes for one shipment?
o How do we ensure the broker is notified?
o At what time will the broker download happen? At filing, arrival or release?
- Portal presentation
o When will the Portal be available to view online?
o When is the ETA to the port required?
o If a carrier sends a transaction to ACE through an EDI message and that information is later updated through the Portal, will ACE send response messages through EDI?
o If there is a change in driver on the load, what is the process and time allowed to get the change in information to CBP?
- EDI Release 3 Presentation: Carrier Accounts - MEDPID
o If the conveyance is registered for FAST does it need to be sent again in MEDPID?
o Is the ACE ID and the FAST ID the same number or can they be different numbers?
o Does CBP update the information for FAST approved drivers?
- EDI Communications: Communications for EDI (MQ Series)
o If we already have an MQ connection, can this be used as a backup?
o What kind of enhancements are being built into the network to relieve outages?
o Can we send multiple ISAs in one message transmission?
o What would be the consequence of having EDI message control numbers out of sequence?
- EDI Release 4 Presentation: ANSI X.12 Messages
o How will you report an empty Instrument of International Traffic (IIT) loaded in a trailer?
o Up until what time can we file manifest amendments?
o Will ACE allow the shipment information submitted by one carrier and the conveyance and the crew information submitted by another carrier to be linked within ACE by the trip number?
o If we cancel a manifest and resubmit, does this start the "clock" again?
- EDI Release 4 Presentation: EDIFACT Messages
o Will Province be a 2 or 3 digit code?
o Can we send one complete CUSCAR for in-bond, or do we need to send an additional CUSREP similar to the 358 in X12?
o Are there any plans for the WCO to use anything other than EDIFACT?
- Testing and Validation
o What is the planned rollout schedule, including dates and sites for ACE, starting with the PRR date?
o How does CBP plan to test the truck manifest portal with the trade?
- Questions Received after June 30, 2003 Trade Support Network Presentation
o In order to participate in the MQ Frame Relay Program is it a requirement that we secure an encryption "black box" from CBP?
o Is there any documentation or information available to the carriers informing them of the type of information that cannot be stored in the Portal? What information must be entered every time and what can be stored under that account?
o How detailed do the commodity descriptions need to be? Will definitions like "Automotive Parts" suffice?
CBP has also made available in both PowerPoint and PDF formats its June 28-29, 2004 eManifest Trucks EDI Information Presentations.
In addition, CBP has posted various new ACE EDI Message Drafts, which CBP says are released as an initial advisory to the trade of the anticipated messages to be used in future releases of ACE, including updated MEDPID EDI Messages for Crew, Conveyance, and Equipment and New Modified ACE EDI Messages for Release 4 - Truck Manifest.
These additional documents will be covered in future issues of International Trade Today.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/14/04 and 09/15/04 news, 04091410 and 04091515 for two-part BP summary of CBP's announcement of the phased implementation of the NCAP (ACE) test of automated truck manifest for truck carrier accounts, which for two ports, is scheduled to begin, at least in part, no earlier than November 29, 2004.)
CBP's Q&A (dated 06/29/04 ) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/about/modernization/ace_edi_drafts/edi_messages/info_session_qa.ctt/info_session_qa.doc.
BP Note
Separately, subscribers are reminded that the mandatory advance electronic information requirements for inbound truck cargo are expected to be implemented in three stages (depending on the port), beginning November 15, 2004. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/18/04 news, 04081805 for BP summary on the applicable compliance dates.)